allium

noun

al·​li·​um ˈa-lē-əm 

plural alliums

: any of a large genus (Allium) of bulbous herbs of the amaryllis family that includes the onion, garlic, chive, and leek

Examples of allium in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Shallot: Offers allium punch, Black pepper: Brings bright pungency and a bit of heat. —Ann Taylor Pittman, Southern Living, 6 Apr. 2024

Tanya suggests other ingredients like anchovies, mushrooms, and fresh herbs that can add depth of flavor without the alliums. —The Bon Appétit Staff & Contributors, Bon Appétit, 29 Feb. 2024

Tahira Ehsan does about half the prep and cooking — hand grinding the spices, sweating down the alliums and mashing them into an onion paste — at her home. —Travis M. Andrews, Washington Post, 12 Mar. 2024

There’s also one important caveat: Michelle’s husband has an intolerance to alliums like garlic, onion, and shallots, which form the base of flavor in many French dishes. —The Bon Appétit Staff & Contributors, Bon Appétit, 29 Feb. 2024

Try tucking in chives and other alliums for spear-like spring blooms or rosemary and woolly thyme for attractive, drought-tolerant ground covers. —Kristin Guy, Sunset Magazine, 6 Feb. 2024

Earlier this year, after Ms. Liang got married to the architect Dorian Booth, fans analyzed her wedding details, including her bouquet — a single white allium tied with a black bow — and the schoolgirl outfits worn by waitstaff, on social media and in newsletters. —Jessica Testa, New York Times, 9 Aug. 2023

The typical soup comes together with chicken broth, chicken meat, and a smattering of savory vegetables and alliums like carrots, garlic, onions, and celery. —Sarah Garone, Health, 10 Jan. 2024

The point is to use aromatic ingredients that will create a foundation of flavor for your dish, and root vegetables and alliums are all good candidates. —Jessica Harlan, Southern Living, 26 Dec. 2023

Word History

Etymology

borrowed from New Latin, genus name, going back to Latin ālium, allium "garlic," of uncertain origin

Note: Compared with Latin āla "wing," if the cloves of a garlic head are comparable to wings, though neither the derivational relationship nor the analogy are more than speculative.

First Known Use

1600, in the meaning defined above

Medical Definition

allium

noun

al·​li·​um ˈal-ē-əm 

1

Allium : a genus of bulbous herbs (as an onion, garlic, or leek) of the amaryllis family distinguished by a characteristic odor, sheathing, mostly basal leaves, and clusters of usually white, blue, purple, pink, or red flowers

2

a

: a plant of the genus Allium

b

: the bulb of garlic formerly used in medicine especially as an expectorant and rubefacient